After the San Antonio Spurs won Game 3 of the NBA Finals, multiple New York Knicks fans were arrested for attacking Spurs supporters and clashing with the police on the streets.
After clips of the assaults went viral on social media, former NBA star Jamal Crawford condemned this behavior from Knicks fans.
The chaos unfolded after Game 3, when the Spurs emerged victorious and ended the Knicks' 13-game winning streak. After the game, multiple Spurs fans were attacked by angry Knicks supporters on the streets of New York .
One viral video showed Knicks fans attacking someone simply because they were wearing a Spurs jersey. Violence also broke out near Bryant Park, where a Knicks watch party had taken place. Some Knicks fans reportedly threw objects at San Antonio fans, and they even attacked the Spurs' team bus after the game.
Another video captured Knicks supporters forcing a Spurs fan to take off his Victor Wembanyama jersey, which they later ripped to shreds and set on fire. Police also had to escort Spurs fans to a taxi cab to protect them from getting attacked.
Crawford, who played for the Knicks from 2004 to 2008, criticized the New York fans who participated in any form of violence against Spurs fans. The three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year shared his disappointment at the way some away fans were treated in New York on Monday.
"I got so much love for Knicks fans, but if I'm seeing Spurs fans being attacked just because of the jersey they are wearing, that's wack," Crawford wrote on X.
The Knicks were hoping to take a 3-0 lead in the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on Monday, but Wembanyama and the Spurs earned their first win of the series. The Spurs superstar later called the violence unacceptable.
"My thoughts are that we can't forget it's a game. We're just playing a game out there," Wembanyama said in his press conference . "And I am all for passion, but to the respect of each other. It's unacceptable."
Game 3 was attended by President Donald Trump and enhanced security measures were put in place to establish crowd control. However, things descended into chaos after the Knicks lost the contest.
Now up 2-1 in the series, the Knicks will look to get back on track in Game 4 on Wednesday as they are attempting to win their first NBA championship since 1973.
